Chocolate Crispy Cakes for VE Day

These Chocolate Crispy Cakes are based on a recipe from a Wartime recipe book that was issued by the W.V.S, and would be perfect for a VE Day Party.

These Chocolate Crispy Cakes are based on a recipe from a Wartime recipe book that was issued by the W.V.S. In the booklet that was printed in 1941, these little cakes were called Chocolate Crisplets, and were made with just two ingredients, un-rationed chocolate spread and breakfast cereal. There are no photos, so I assume that the cereal was either Rice Krispies or Corn Flakes, as there wasn’t the range of cereals then that we have now.

I was surprised to learn that chocolate spread was un-rationed, but as the book was published in the first years of WW2, maybe it was rationed later. I have updated the recipe as part of my VE Day 75 menu planning, but I have tried to stick to ingredients that were readily available in the day, namely cereal, cocoa powder and golden syrup, with a scant amount of butter. I have also added some other variations for more modern day tastes, in the notes at the end of the recipe.

I know these are very popular now, and I also remember my mum making them for birthday parties when I was little. So, it was fascinating to see that these were also mentioned in the little wartime booklet I have. I am adding them on Lavender & Lovage today, because I think they will be a lovely addition to any VE Day 75 celebrations you may be planning, for a Stay at Home VE Day Party.

My last recipe for VE Day was VE DAY CONDENSED MILK CAKE, and I also added some menu and recipe suggestions in that post too. I have adapted the recipe today for Chocolate Crispy Cakes for VE Day as I mentioned before, but if you really want the authentic recipe, than why not make it as it was published in 1941?

I’m sharing some modern day variations on the recipe below, as well as the original recipe too. …or one of the ingredients like sourdough starter in a sourdough recipe

• Melt 100g of milk chocolate and add 40g to 50g of rice krispies, mix well to coat and spoon into cake cases.
• Add corn flakes to the original recipe, instead of rice krispies.
• Make the recipe vegan by using a plant based spread or dairy free chocolate.
• Add mini marshmallows to the chocolate mixture.
• Add Hundreds and Thousands (sprinkles) to the cakes before they set.
•  Use dark chocolate instead of mill chocolate for a more adult taste.
• Make them according to the original recipe by using a chocolate spread, such as Nutella. See orignal recipe below.

• Melt some chocolate spread (un-rationed) in a saucepan.
• Throw in enough cereal to make a stiff mixture.
• Form into little cakes to cool and harden.
• Taken from Hailsham W.V.S. “Mixed Grill of War Time Recipes” Booklet, published 1941-1942

Sandwiches, eggless sponge cake and saved-up beer… how VE Day was celebrated at the table (You will need a Daily Telegraph subscription to read this in full)

VE Day street parties

WW2 The People’s War

VE DAY VICTORY STREET PARTY IN LONDON, 1945

War War 2 Picture Gallery Food

I hope that you have found my post today interesting, and hopefully you will try out this simple recipe as part of any VE Day celebrations you may be having. There will be just be the two of us this 8th May, but I am going to bake some wartime recipes, and put on a little Stay at Home VE Day 75 Party for us!

PLEASE DO let me know if you make the original recipe, with just the two ingredients for these Chocolate Crispy Cakes. I’m going to try that method myself when I can get hold of some chocolate spread. I have listed some more VE Day party recipes below….have a LOVELY weekend wherever you are, Karen

You’ll find the full and printable recipe at the end of this post.

• Melt the butter in a pan with the golden syrup, then add the cocoa powder and mix well, stirring all the time.

• Turn the heat down to the lowest temperature and add the rice krispies or cereal gradually, mixing all the time until there is no “spare” chocolate covering left and that are well coated.

• Take the pan of the heat and spoon the chocolate crispy cakes into the cake cases.

• Leave to cool before eating.